All files to Nilesh Cabral, new ‘power’ centre in Goa?

PANAJI: A circular issued by the government asking all senior officers and head of departments to divert their files to the office of power minister Nilesh Cabral created a flutter in the secretariat with some ministers asking chief minister Manohar Parrikar and chief secretary Dharmendra Sharma to clear the air on the issue.
The circular, signed by under secretary (general administration I), Varsha Naik, stated: “All secretaries, additional secretaries, joint secretaries and under secretaries to the government, and secretariat departments, head of departments, officers, corporations, and autonomous bodies are hereby directed to address and divert all their correspondence, files and all other official matters to the office of the minister for power at 1st Floor, Ministerial Block, Porvorim, Goa.”
Copies of the circular dated November 13 have been dispatched to the office of all ministers besides departments and other government bodies.It gives an impression that the power minister has been given powers by the chief minister to run the administration, an official said.
“This (has been) issued with the approval of the chief secretary,” the circular stated.
“It is very strange and perplexing as to how such a circular could be issued. It does not pertain to the power department only as all senior officers and department heads have been asked to address their files to the power minister,” an official in the power department said.
‘Such circulars create confusion’
Another officer questioned how the chief minister, who is also the minister for personnel and general administration, could be unaware of the circular.
Stating that the motive behind the circular could not be understood, a minister said it has to be withdrawn.
Instead of facilitating smooth functioning of the administration, such circulars create roadblocks and misunderstanding, another officer said.